Systems and methods for providing enhanced haptic feedback

ABSTRACT

A system includes a haptic output device constructed and arranged to generate a haptic effect to a user of the system, and a chemical delivery device constructed and arranged to deliver a chemical to the user of the system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/587,135, filed Dec. 31, 2014, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention is related to systems and method for providingenhanced haptic feedback.

BACKGROUND

Handheld device users often would like their devices to provide strongerhaptic feedback, which may be difficult to accomplish due to size andpower constraints of handheld devices. Handheld device designersgenerally try to produce the best haptic feedback possible withincertain size and power constraints. In addition, some users of handhelddevices have low tactile sensitivity and therefore may have difficultyfeeling haptic effects. Audio or video feedback may be used tocompensate for weak haptic feedback, or haptic notifications that maypossibly be missed.

SUMMARY

There is a need to be able to enhance the haptic feedback that is feltby users of handheld devices.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a system thatincludes a haptic output device constructed and arranged to generate ahaptic effect to a user of the system, and a chemical delivery deviceconstructed and arranged to deliver a chemical to the user of thesystem.

In an embodiment, the system further includes one or more processorsconfigured to execute at least one computer program module comprising adetermination module that, when executed by the one or more processors,determines when to initiate delivery of the chemical to change tactilesensitivity of the user and alter the haptic effect generated by thehaptic output device.

In an embodiment, the chemical delivery device includes a reservoirconstructed and arranged to hold the chemical, and a positive pressuredevice constructed and arranged to extract the chemical from thereservoir and deliver the chemical through an opening to the user.

In an embodiment, the chemical is selected from the group consisting of:a moisturizer, a topical anesthetic, a conductive gel, and a pHadjuster.

In an embodiment, the haptic output device includes the chemicaldelivery device, and the chemical generates the haptic effect. In anembodiment, the haptic effect is a sensation selected from the groupconsisting of a burning sensation, a warming sensation, a coolingsensation, an itching sensation, and a numbing sensation.

In an embodiment, the system is in the form of a handheld deviceselected from the group consisting of a tablet, a smartphone, and a gamecontroller.

In an embodiment, the system further includes a sensor configured tosense a condition of the user's skin. In an embodiment, the condition ishumidity.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method toalter a haptic effect felt by a user of an electronic device. The methodincludes delivering a chemical with a chemical delivery device to theuser of the electronic device to change tactile sensitivity of the userof the electronic device, and generating the haptic effect to the userof the electronic device with a haptic output device.

In an embodiment, the method further includes sensing a condition of theuser's skin with a sensor, and determining whether to initiate deliveryof the chemical to the user of the electronic device based on the sensedcondition.

These and other aspects, features, and characteristics of the presentinvention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of therelated elements of structure and the combination of parts and economiesof manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as adefinition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specificationand in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” includeplural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components of the following Figures are illustrated to emphasize thegeneral principles of the present disclosure and are not necessarilydrawn to scale. Reference characters designating correspondingcomponents are repeated as necessary throughout the Figures for the sakeof consistency and clarity.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system in accordance withembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a chemical delivery device of thesystem of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a processor of the system of FIG.1, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates a front perspective view of animplementation of the system of FIG. 1 in the form of a handheldelectronic device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates a rear perspective view of thehandheld electronic device of FIG. 4A, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system 100 in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The system 100 may be any electronicdevice, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, electronicworkbook, electronic handheld device (such as a mobile phone,smartphone, gaming device, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), portablee-mail device, portable Internet access device, calculator, etc.), kiosk(such as an automated teller machine, ticket purchasing machine, etc.),printer, point-of-sale device, game controller, wearable device, orother electronic device. As illustrated, the system 100 includes aprocessor 110, a memory device 120, and input/output devices 130, whichare interconnected via a bus 140. In an embodiment, the input/outputdevices 130 may include a touch screen device 150, a haptic outputdevice 160, a chemical delivery device 170, one or more sensors 180,and/or other input devices that receive input from a user of the system100 and output devices that output information or chemicals to the userof the system 100. In an embodiment, the system 100 may be a handheldelectronic device that includes all of the components illustrated inFIG. 1 in a single integrated device. In an embodiment, two or more ofthe components illustrated in FIG. 1 may be co-located in the sameelectronic device. In an embodiment, each component illustrated in FIG.1 may be separately located in an different electronic device.

In addition to the touch screen device 150 and the haptic output device160, the input/output devices 130 may also include specific inputmechanisms and output mechanisms. For example, the input mechanisms mayinclude such devices as keyboards, keypads, cursor control devices(e.g., computer mice), other data entry devices, such as styluses, or anaudio receiver, such as a microphone. Output mechanisms may include acomputer monitor, virtual reality display device, audio output device,such as a speaker, printer, or other peripheral devices. Theinput/output devices 130 may include mechanisms that are designed to notonly receive input from a user, but also provide feedback to the user,such as many examples of touch screen devices.

The touch screen device 150 may be configured as any suitable userinterface or touch/contact surface assembly. The touch screen device 150may be any touch screen, touch pad, touch sensitive structure, computermonitor, laptop display device, workbook display device, kiosk screen,portable electronic device screen, or other suitable touch sensitivedevice. The touch screen device 150 may be configured for physicalinteraction with a user-controlled device, such as a stylus, finger,etc. In some embodiments, the touch screen device 150 may include atleast one output device and at least one input device. For example, thetouch screen device 150 may include the visual display 152 configured todisplay, for example, images and a touch sensitive screen comprising atleast one sensor superimposed thereon to receive inputs from a user'sfinger or stylus controlled by the user. The visual display 152 mayinclude a high definition display screen.

In various embodiments, the haptic output device 160 is configured toprovide haptic feedback to the user of the system 100 while the user isin contact with a least a portion of the system 100. For example, thehaptic output device 160 may provide haptic feedback to the touch screendevice 150 itself to impose a haptic effect when the user is in contactwith the touch screen device 150 and/or to another part of the system100, such as a housing containing at least the input/output devices 130.The haptic effects may be used to enhance the user experience wheninteracting with the system 100.

The haptic feedback provided by the haptic output device 160 may becreated with any of the methods of creating haptic effects, such asvibration, deformation, kinesthetic sensations, electrostatic orultrasonic friction, etc. In an embodiment, the haptic output device 160may include an actuator, for example, an electromagnetic actuator suchas an Eccentric Rotating Mass (“ERM”) in which an eccentric mass ismoved by a motor, a Linear Resonant Actuator (“LRA”) in which a massattached to a spring is driven back and forth, or a “smart material”such as piezoelectric materials, electro-active polymers, such as ionicor electronic based electroactive polymers, shape member polymers, smarthydrogels, or shape memory alloys, a macro-composite fiber actuator, anelectro-static actuator, an electro-tactile actuator, a nanocompositeactuator, a pneumatic-based actuator and/or another type of actuatorthat provides a physical feedback such as vibrotactile feedback. Thehaptic output device 160 may include non-mechanical or non-vibratorydevices such as those that use electrostatic friction (ESF), ultrasonicfriction (USF), or those that induce acoustic radiation pressure with anultrasonic haptic transducer, or those that use a haptic substrate and aflexible or deformable surface, or those that provide thermal effects,or those that provide projected haptic output such as a puff of airusing an air jet, and so on. Multiple haptic output devices 160 may beused to generate different haptic effects, as discussed in furtherdetail below.

An embodiment of the chemical delivery device 170 is schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the chemicaldelivery device 170 includes a reservoir 202 constructed and arranged tohold a chemical represented by 203. The chemical 203 may be atouch-enhancing chemical or any chemical that can alter a person'ssensitivity to the haptic effects that are generated by the hapticoutput device 160, or the chemical 203 may be used to provide a hapticeffect, as described in further detail below. The chemical 203 may comein the form of a powder, a liquid, a cream, a gel, or a gas, forexample.

In an embodiment, the chemical 203 may be a moisturizer, talc, anantiperspirant or any other chemical that affects moisture in the skin.It is known that a moisturizer may improve the tactile sensitivity of,for example, an elderly person. Also, talc and an antiperspirant mayreduce the humidity of the skin and affect tactile sensitivity as well.It is also known that dry skin and calluses also reduce tactilesensitivity, and chemicals that reverse the condition of dry skin orheal calluses may also be used to improve tactile sensitivity.Alterations of the pH of the skin may also affect tactile sensitivity,so a chemical that causes a change in the pH of the skin may also beused in an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the chemical203 may include a substance that may increase blood flow, such asarginine cream and cellulite cream, which may improve tactilesensitivity.

In an embodiment, the chemical 203 may be in the form of a gel and/orinclude active ingredients that can clean the skin and remove dead skincells, which may increase tactile sensitivity. In an embodiment, thechemical 203 may be a conductive gel that is typically used forelectrodes and may affect the delivery of ESF or electrotactile stimuli.Gels and other viscous chemicals may also alter the sensation caused bymechanical vibration, such as by damping the vibrations or making abetter mechanical contact.

It is also known that certain drugs, such as drugs containingamphetamines, including 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine may cause ahypersensitivity of the skin. Legal chemicals or drugs that cause asimilar hypersensitivity may be used as the chemical 203 withembodiments of the invention. In an embodiment, a chemical or drug thatis used to restore tactile sensitivity in patients with peripheralneuropathy may be used as the chemical 203 with embodiments of theinvention.

In some embodiments of the invention, the chemical 203 may be used toalter the tactile sensitivity of the user in a manner that reduces thetactile sensitivity of the user, instead of enhancing the tactilesensitivity of the user. For example, in an embodiment, a topicalanesthetic that reduces tactile sensitivity of or numbs the user's skinmay be used to mask unwanted tactile sensations or to temporarilyincrease the level of difficulty in a game or to reflect the physicalstate of a game avatar.

In an embodiment, the chemical 203 may be selected to provide a certaintactile sensation to the user of the system, such as a warming orburning sensation, a cooling sensation, or an itching sensation. Forexample, capsaicin or muscle balm may be used to cause a burningsensation, and menthol, peppermint oil, alcohol, or aloe vera may beused to produce a sensation of cold. Chemicals found in poison ivy anditching powder may be used to cause an itching sensation or a mildirritation of the skin. Some chemicals may cause an exothermic reactionand warm up the skin. This sensation of warmth may be used directly as ahaptic effect, or it may be used to alter tactile sensitivity, whichvaries with the temperature of the skin. Some chemicals may cause anendothermic reaction and cool the skin.

In an embodiment, the chemical 203 may be selected to alter theadherence of the skin and make the skin sticky or slippery, which may beused to make a surface of the system 100 in contact with the user feelsticky or slippery, depending on the context. In an embodiment, such achemical may make a touchscreen or buttons of the input/output device(s)130 of the system 100 described above feel sticky or slippery aftertouching the chemical 203. This may be done by controlling the moistureof the skin, as described above. This may also be done by deliveringother chemicals, such as oils and adhesive substances. The effect causedby a particular chemical may be counteracted by delivering the oppositechemical (e.g., adhesive after oil) or by delivering a chemical that may“clean up” the first chemical (e.g., alcohol to dissolve adhesive, talcto absorb oil, etc.).

In an embodiment, the chemical 203 may have an odor that may indirectlyaffect the interpretation of tactile sensations. For example, a pleasantsmell may lead to tactile sensations with a positive effect on the user.

The chemical delivery device 170 may also include a positive pressuredevice 204 that is constructed and arranged to deliver the chemical 203from the reservoir 202 through an opening 206 of a wall 208 of thesystem 100 so that the chemical 203 can contact a user of the system 100and alter the user's sensitivity to the haptic effects that aregenerated by the haptic output device 160. In an embodiment, thepositive pressure device 204 may include a micropump and a microvalvethat are configured to control the release of the chemical 203 from thereservoir 202. In an embodiment, the positive pressure device 204 mayinclude a pneumatic system that is constructed and arranged to push thechemical out of the reservoir 202 and through the opening 206 when theuser of the system 100 firmly holds or squeezes a part of the system 100that includes the chemical delivery device 170. In an embodiment, thechemical 203 may be released from the reservoir 202 by osmotic pressurethrough a membrane having one or more pores.

In an embodiment, the chemical delivery device 170 may include amechanism or a device that may facilitate or inhibit the release of thechemical 203. For example, a portion of the chemical delivery device 170may be slightly heated or cooled to affect the release of the chemical203. In an embodiment, the size of the pore(s) of the membrane thoughwhich the chemical 203 is released may be changed by heating themembrane or with another chemical, for example, and the chemical 203 maybe released through the membrane if the pore size is changing. In anembodiment, a portion of the housing may be electrically charged toaffect the release of the chemical 203.

Returning to FIG. 1, the processor 110 may be a general-purpose orspecific-purpose processor or microcontroller for managing orcontrolling the operations and functions of the system 100. For example,the processor 110 may be specifically designed as anapplication-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) to control outputsignals to the haptic output device 160 to provide haptic effects. Theprocessor 110 may be configured to decide, based on predefined factors,whether the chemical 203 is delivered by the chemical delivery device170 and/or what haptic effects are to be generated by the haptic outputdevice 160 based on a haptic signal received or determined by theprocessor 110, the order in which the haptic effects are generated, andthe magnitude, frequency, duration, and/or other parameters of thehaptic effects. The processor 110 may also be configured to providestreaming commands that can be used to drive the haptic output device160 for providing a particular haptic effect. In some embodiments, theprocessor 110 may actually be a plurality of processors, each configuredto perform certain functions within the system 100. The processor 110 isdescribed in further detail below.

The memory device 120 may include one or more internally fixed storageunits, removable storage units, and/or remotely accessible storageunits. The various storage units may include any combination of volatilememory and non-volatile memory. The storage units may be configured tostore any combination of information, data, instructions, software code,etc. More particularly, the storage units may include haptic effectprofiles, instructions for how the haptic output device 160 is to bedriven, or other information for generating haptic effects. The storageunits may include sensitivity profiles, instructions for how thechemical delivery device 170 is to be operated, or other information fordelivering the chemical 203 to the user of the system 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the processor 110 in more detail.The processor 110 may be configured to execute one or more computerprogram modules. The one or more computer program modules may includeone or more of a sensor module 112, a determination module 114, achemical delivery control module 116, a haptic output device controlmodule 118, and/or other modules. The processor 110 may also includeelectronic storage 119, which may be the same as the memory device 120or in addition to the memory device 120. The processor 110 may beconfigured to execute the modules 112, 114, 116, and/or 118 by software,hardware, firmware, some combination of software, hardware, and/orfirmware, and/or other mechanisms for configuring processingcapabilities on processor 110.

It should be appreciated that although modules 112, 114, 116, and 118are illustrated in FIG. 3 as being co-located within a single processingunit, in embodiments in which the processor 110 includes multipleprocessing units, one or more of modules 112, 114, 116, and/or 118 maybe located remotely from the other modules. The description of thefunctionality provided by the different modules 112, 114, 116, and/or118 described below is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended tobe limiting, as any of the modules 112, 114, 116, and/or 118 may providemore or less functionality than is described. For example, one or moreof the modules 112, 114, 116, and/or 118 may be eliminated, and some orall of its functionality may be provided by other ones of the modules112, 114, 116, and/or 118. As another example, the processor 110 may beconfigured to execute one or more additional modules that may performsome or all of the functionality attributed below to one of the modules112, 114, 116, and/or 118.

The sensor module 112 is configured to receive an input signal from thesensor associated with the touch screen device 150 that is generatedwhen the sensor detects an input from a user of the system 100. Inembodiments in which there are multiple sensors, the sensor module 112is configured to receive and process input signals from the multiplesensors. The sensor module 112 may be configured to determine whetherthe sensed input is an intentional input or merely an inadvertent touchto the touch screen device 150 by comparing the strength of the inputsignal to a predetermined threshold strength that corresponds to anintentional input. In an embodiment the system 100, one of the sensors180 may be configured to measure the moisture content, i.e. humidity, orpH of the user's skin as the user touches a part of the system 100. Thesensor module 112 is also configured to send a signal to thedetermination module 114 for further processing.

The determination module 114 is configured to determine what wasintended by the user when providing an input to the touch screen device150. For example, the user may touch a certain location of the touchscreen device 150 or provide a particular gesture to the touch screendevice 150 that indicates that a certain function is to be performed bythe system 100. The determination module 114 may be programmed with alibrary of predetermined gestures and touch locations on the touchscreen device 150 so that when the user touches a particular location onthe touch screen device 150 or provides a gesture to the touch screendevice 150, the determination module 114 may determine a correspondingoutput. For example, in an embodiment in which the system 100 is asmartphone, the user may draw a symbol on the touch screen device 150with his or her finger and the determination module 114 may determinethat the drawn symbol corresponds to a particular command, such asunlocking the smartphone so that the user may freely interact with thesmartphone. In an embodiment, the determination module 114 may beconfigured to receive a signal from a remote device, such as a timer,that provides an input to indicate that a haptic effect is to begenerated, instead of or in addition to the signal received from thesensor module 112. In addition, the determination module 114 may alsooutput a signal to the haptic output device control module 118 so that ahaptic effect verifying the input has been detected and/or accepted maybe provided to the user.

The determination module 114 is also configured to determine whether thehumidity or pH of the user's skin that was measured by the sensor 180 isat a level that may be indicative that the user may have low tactilesensitivity and difficulty feeling the haptic effects that are generatedby the haptic output device 160. If the determination module 114determines that the tactile sensitivity is likely to be below apredetermined threshold, the determination module 114 may output asignal to the chemical delivery control module 116.

The chemical delivery control module 116 is configured to receive anoutput signal from the determination module 114 and send a signal to thechemical delivery device 170 to initiate delivery of the chemical 203,if the determination module 114 determines that the chemical 203 shouldbe delivered to the user. The chemical delivery control module 116 mayinclude a look-up table that provides parameters for the chemicaldelivery device 170, such as an amount (i.e. dose) of the chemical 203to be delivered, and a duration of time over which the chemical 203 isto be delivered to the user.

The haptic output device control module 118 is configured to receive anoutput signal from the determination module 114 and determine the hapticeffect to be generated by the haptic output device 160, based on thesignal generated by the determination module 114. In an embodiment, thehaptic output device control module 118 may be configured to receive asignal from a remote device, such as a timer, that provides an input toindicate that a haptic effect is to be generated, instead of or inaddition to the signal received from the determination module 114.Determining the haptic effect may include determining the type of hapticeffect and one or more parameters of the haptic effect, such asamplitude, frequency, duration, etc., of the haptic effect. In anembodiment, the touch screen device 150 includes a display surface,which may be rigid and configured to modulate its friction propertiesthrough, including but not limited to, electrostatic friction andultrasonic surface vibration generated by a haptic output device 160, togive the user a feeling of surface relief (e.g., hills and valleys) whenrunning a finger or stylus across the display that corresponds to thedisplay image. In an embodiment, the haptic output device control module118 may output a signal to the chemical delivery device 170 when thechemical 203 in the chemical delivery device 170 is to provide thehaptic effect.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an embodiment of the system 100 of FIG. 1 inthe form of a handheld electronic device 400. The electronic device 400may be a smartphone, a tablet, a game controller, etc. As illustrated inFIG. 4A, the electronic device 400 includes a housing 410 that supportsa touchscreen 420 configured to display an image 421. A sensor 422overlays a display of the touchscreen 420 and is configured to sense atouch input by the user's finger F on the touchscreen 420. A hapticeffect HE may be generated in response to the touch input by a hapticoutput device, as described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the housing 410 also supports a sensor 412that may cover the back and/or sides of the housing and be configured tosense a condition of the user's skin when the user holds the electronicdevice 400. In an embodiment, the sensor 412 is configured to sense thehumidity of the user's skin. In an embodiment, the sensor 412 isconfigured to sense a pH of the user's skin. As also illustrated in FIG.4B, the housing 410 includes a plurality of openings 414. The openings414 may be constructed and arranged like the opening 206 illustrated inFIG. 2, and configured to deliver the chemical 203 to the user, if thedetermination module 114 determines that the chemical 203 should bedelivered to the user to enhance the user's tactile sensitivity. In anembodiment, the chemical 203 may be delivered through the openings 414to generate the haptic effect to the user.

Although a plurality of openings 414 are illustrated, in accordance withan embodiment of the invention, as few as one opening may be provided ata location that is easy to be located by the user. For example, in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B, an opening 416 with a locatingfeature 418 may be provided in one corner of the housing 410 so that theuser may easily locate the opening 416 in order to receive a dose of thechemical 203 for further interaction with the electronic device 400. Thelocating feature 418 may, for example, be in the form of a recess or abump. In an embodiment, the chemical 203 delivered though the opening416 or the plurality of openings 414 may be used to generate a hapticeffect, such as burning, cooling, itching, or tingling, as discussedabove.

In an embodiment, the housing 410 of the electronic device 400 may beconfigured to continuously deliver the chemical 203, especially if thechemical enhances tactile sensitivity, if the sensor 412 senses that theelectronic device 400 is being held by the user. In an embodiment, thehousing 410 itself may, for example, contain a material that reacts tothe heat or humidity of the skin and releases a small amount of thechemical 203, such as a moisturizer, when held. In an embodiment, abacteria may be used for microactuation as its humidity level changes.

Implementations of embodiments of the invention may be achieved indifferent types of electronic devices. For example, a user who has roughskin may have difficulty feeling haptic effects on his/her tablet due tothe rough skin. In an embodiment, the electronic device 400 may be inthe form of a tablet and include a special coating that includes thechemical 203 that improves a user's sense of touch over time as the userholds the tablet. After a few weeks of use, the user may already startto feel a difference in the haptic feedback provided by the tablet.

In an embodiment, the electronic device 400 may be in the form of avideo game controller. As the user is playing a video game on a console,the game controller may suddenly feel very cold as the user's characterfalls into river. Later, the user's hands may start to burn and tingleas the user's character walks through fire. As the character is hurt andabout to die, the user's hand may become numb such that the user hasmore difficulty operating the controller. The different cooling,burning, tingling and numbing sensations may be generated with differentchemicals 203 being delivered by the game controller to the user. In anembodiment, the game controller may become slippery when a gamecharacter slips in oil, or sticky when the game character walks througha spiderweb.

In an embodiment, the system 100 may include a tablet and a stylus thatthe user may use to draw. The haptic feedback provided by the system mayreplicate the feel of holding a real brush and helps the user draw moreprecisely. The stylus may include the chemical delivery device and asthe user holds the stylus, a small amount of the chemical 203 may bedelivered to the surface of the stylus and contact the user's fingers sothat a haptic effect that is provided by the system via the tablet orthe stylus may feel much sharper and stronger.

In an embodiment, the electronic device 400 may be a smartphone and theuser may watch a movie on the smartphone. The user may feel a variety ofsensations, such as burning and tingling that seem to match the actionin the movie due to the delivery of a suitable chemical 203 through thehousing of the smartphone. When such sensations are combined withvibrations generated by the haptic output device 160, the overall effectmay be quite realistic and immersive. In an embodiment, the chemical 203may have properties that provide an embodiment of a smartphone thatresists being released by becoming sticky if the user forgets to press“send” on a message, for example.

In an embodiment, the chemical 203 be delivered whenever the hand is incontact with the electronic device 400 to increase tactile sensitivity.In an embodiment, it may be beneficial to control the release of thechemical 203 using the processor 110 of the electronic device 400 toproduce tactile sensations at specific moments in a game, for example.

In an embodiments, the chemical 203 may be delivered through separatedevices that are used with the electronic device that produces thehaptic feedback, such as a stylus or the hand rests on a laptop. In anembodiment, the chemical delivery device 170 may be provided to theelectronic device 400 in the form of a case or other after-marketaccessory.

The embodiments described herein represent a number of possibleimplementations and examples and are not intended to necessarily limitthe present disclosure to any specific embodiments. Instead, variousmodifications can be made to these embodiments as would be understood byone of ordinary skill in the art. Any such modifications are intended tobe included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure andprotected by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a haptic output deviceconstructed and arranged to generate a haptic effect to a user of thesystem; and a chemical delivery device constructed and arranged tophysically deliver a chemical to the user of the system.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising one or more processorsconfigured to execute at least one computer program module comprising adetermination module, when executed by the one or more processors,determines when to initiate delivery of the chemical to change tactilesensitivity of the user and alter the haptic effect generated by thehaptic output device.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein thechemical delivery device comprises a reservoir constructed and arrangedto hold the chemical and a positive pressure device constructed andarranged to extract the chemical from the reservoir and deliver thechemical through an opening to the user.
 4. The system according toclaim 1, wherein the chemical is selected from the group consisting of:a moisturizer, a topical anesthetic, a conductive gel, and a pHadjuster.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the haptic outputdevice comprises the chemical delivery device, and wherein the chemicalgenerates the haptic effect.
 6. The system according to claim 5, whereinthe haptic effect is a sensation selected from the group consisting of aburning sensation, a warming sensation, a cooling sensation, an itchingsensation and a numbing sensation.
 7. The system according to claim 1,wherein the system is in the form of a handheld device selected from thegroup consisting of a tablet, a smartphone and a game controller.
 8. Thesystem according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured tosense a condition of the user's skin.
 9. The system according to claim8, wherein the condition is humidity.
 10. A method to alter a hapticeffect felt by a user of an electronic device, the method comprising:physically delivering a chemical with a chemical delivery device to theuser of the electronic device to change tactile sensitivity of the userof the electronic device; and generating the haptic effect to the userof the electronic device with a haptic output device.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising sensing a condition of theuser's skin with a sensor, and determining whether to initiate deliveryof the chemical to the user of the electronic device based on the sensedcondition with a processor.
 12. The method according to claim 11,wherein the condition is humidity.
 13. The method according to claim 10,wherein the haptic output device comprises the chemical delivery device,and wherein the chemical generates the haptic effect.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein the haptic effect is a sensation selectedfrom the group consisting of a burning sensation, a warming sensation, acooling sensation, an itching sensation and a numbing sensation.
 15. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein the chemical is selected from thegroup consisting of: a moisturizer, a topical anesthetic, a conductivegel, and a pH adjuster.